Album Review: Reconcile – “Sacrifice”

All views presented in this Album Review are those of the reviewer and not of DJ Wade-O.

Florida always gets a bad rap. It’s never really been classified as a true member of the South for some reason. Geographically it is but when it relates to culture it’s kind of classified on it’s own. I first noticed this when the South started to really make a mark in hip-hop. It seemed like Florida kept getting forgotten about when the South was brought up. Whether it is the culturally diverse nature of some parts of Florida or the progressive culture and music of other parts, for some strange reason, the idea exists that Florida isn’t really southern.

Reconcile is the perfect example as to why that’s not 100% true. As an artist Reconcile is about as southern as they come and he’s from Fort Meyers, Florida (though he currently resides in Texas). He represents the very southern parts of Florida. That loud, heavy bass rattling trunks and the energy and passion that southern artists became known for. This is all apart of the Florida that I grew up in and more importantly it’s apart of the music Reconcile makes.

Even though he is still pretty fresh in CHH, he has a blossoming career. His first release “Abandoned Hope” was a strong debut. He has also had some impressive features along side Uncle Reece, Chris Cobbins and Corey Paul over the past year and some change as well. That coupled with his early association with Thi’sl’s Full Ride Music Group helped Reconcile make a pretty solid name for himself. Now he is ready to offer up his newest album Sacrifice. This independent project should carry on the strong career Reconcile is building.

The Music

Like I stated earlier, Reconcile is from the South. If you didn’t know before listening to his music, you definitely would after listening to his music. All of the elements that southern hip-hop has become known for (i.e. heavy bass, energy and a more simplistic lyrical delivery) is all apart of what Reconcile brings to the table. Sacrifice is no different.

The presentation of his lyrics is really unique to him. He voice is more on the raspy side but he brings so much passion and energy to each verse. You can’t help but stop to listen when voice pierces thru your speakers or headphones.

A great example of this is the first song (track #2) on Sacrifice, “Risen” featuring Joe Solomon. While “Risen” is a slower song comprised of a soft piano and melody, Reconcile still attacks the song. It works beautifully in this case because it creates a near southern-rap ballad. What Rec says is also pushed to the forefront of the listeners mind, as he declares that Christ risen from the dead is the most important thing. This passion and energy is found on nearly every record on Sacrifice, which is quite the accomplishment as it’s a 16-track album.

The production on Sacrifice is also an ode to classic southern hip-hop. There is so much bass and bounce on this record. “HHGH” featuring Json and Corey Paul, and “Forty8” featuring Corey Paul will have your head banging and your speakers rattling. These are the types of tracks where Reconcile really shines because he is fully in his element.

The only problem with the music (as with most southern records) is that the production becomes the star at times. The music is so good that one could easily pay more attention to the beats than the lyrics on certain songs. Style of production aside, the music makes for a great backdrop for Reconcile and provides for an easy listening experience, though. There is a good mixture of up-tempo and slower songs. All together Sacrifice is about personal preference. If “Dirty South” style hip-hop is something you like then you’ll love this record. If it’s not then you probably won’t appreciate the quality of music.

The Message

When talking about Reconcile you can’t get too far without mentioning his message. It’s very similar to some of the more popular artists in the genre currently (Thi’sl and Dre Murray). The focus of the message is more of a gritty/hood message. It is very real, blunt and straightforward. He doesn’t shy away from some of the tough topics that face our inner cities; like rape, drugs and violence.

Its also clear that Reconcile loves the people in the inner city. When he’s rapping you can connect with his passion and he makes you care about what he’s talking about, even if it’s something your not familiar with. For some Sacrifice will be an eye opener as Rec informs you of the breath of issues facing our inner cities. For others it will pull on your heartstrings because it relates to you. Either way, by the end of the record you will care.

In addition to the passionate street tales throughout Sacrifice, Reconcile also offers up the solution to the problems plaguing the inner cities: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Never once is the gospel forgotten about on this record. Reconcile always ties it into his topic and leaves the focus on Jesus.

Sacrifice is a truly uplifting listen for your spirit because of Rec’s delivery of the gospel. Reconcile is so passionate about God and so in love with Him that, as the listener, you can’t but help but be inspired. “Amen” is the best example of this. It is basically Reconcile’s love song to Christ, where he thanks God for bringing him to where he is. After this song you just sit there and think about all God has done for you and you just thank Him. That is what Reconcile and this album is all about.

Conclusion

Overall this is a very good record. It has all the things CHH fans could want. There is a strong message, slower introspective songs and straight bangers. If that’s not enough there are some amazing features on Sacrifice. Some of the best artists in our community lent verses to this album. Guys like Canon, Json and Alex Faith all bring their best. It raises the quality of the record and provides some very memorable moments like “#Can’tTakeThisFromMe” which features strong verses by both John Givez and Dre Murray.

This record comes down to what you want to hear. If you want deep lyricism, lyrical theology or a more contemporary sound then this isn’t the record for you. This is classic southern hip-hop with a deep message. That’s what makes it special. If you’re looking to try something new or if you are already a southern hip-hop junkie, then this is a record that definitely has to be in your library.

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Aubrey McKay has a strong passion and love for CHH, and he uses that to write album reviews for Wadeoradio.com. He is a graduate of Southeastern University in Lakeland Florida. He currently resides in Lakeland and teaches middle school.
Twitter: @ajmckay24